Can you start a sentence with but? English teachers love to tell us it’s against the rules. But there is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with but.
As you grow as a writer, you learn that many of the rules you were taught in school aren’t really rules at all. Can you start a sentence with but? Your third-grade teacher probably told you this was absolutely verboten. However, this is an example of a common rule that is misleading. There is nothing wrong with starting a sentence with but or any other coordinating conjunction. In fact, authorities as lofty as The Elements of Style, The Chicago Style Manual, and William Shakespeare all begin sentences with the word “but.” In the case of the former two examples for analyzing a sentence, they also overtly say that it is permissible.
Contents
- Why It Is OK to Start a Sentence with But?
- What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?
- What Are Independent Clauses?
- How Do You Avoid Sentence Fragments?
- Can But Go at the Beginning of a Sentence in Good Writing?
- Is It OK in Business Writing?
- Where Did the Rule Against Starting a Sentence with But Come From?
- The Final Word on Can You Start a Sentence with But
- FAQ About Starting a Sentence with But
- Author
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
|
Best Sentence Checker
|
Grammarly
|
Claim My Discount → |
|
Best Alternative
|
ProWritingAid
|
Claim My Discount → |
Why It Is OK to Start a Sentence with But?
“But” is conjunction. According to sources including Merriam-Webster, conjunction is used to join words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Because of this, it is perfectly proper to use “but” to begin a sentence that continues an idea expressed in the previous one.
What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?
We use coordinating conjunctions to connect words and phrases together. The seven coordinating conjunctions in the English language are:
- And
- But
- For
- Nor
- Or
- So
- Yet
It is perfectly allowable to start a sentence with any of these, as long as you are connecting two independent clauses.
What Are Independent Clauses?
An independent clause is one that forms a complete sentence on its own. Examples of independent clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions include:
- I got to the station early. But I still missed my train.
- She won’t eat at Italian restaurants. Nor will she try sushi.
- We could go to Paris. Or we could take a flight to Madrid.
How Do You Avoid Sentence Fragments?
As long as the sentence you started with “but” includes both a noun and a verb, the chances that you’ve created a fragment are very low. A sentence fragment lacks one or the other (usually the verb). As long as the first phrase ends in a full stop and the second phrase uses “but” in a logical way, you can’t go wrong.
Examples include:
- I got the promotion. But I still won’t make as much as I need.
- He arrived with seven bags of groceries. But he still forgot the bread.
There are few logical statements in sentences of those forms that would take the form of fragments. If you were to write “He arrived with seven bags of groceries. But the bread.” the reader would be excused for wondering “but the bread what?”
Can But Go at the Beginning of a Sentence in Good Writing?
Yes, absolutely. Good writing, in fact, is made up of sentences that vary in length and word use. Bad writing often suffers from an excess of uniformity rather than a sprinkling of grammar that, although correct, would not be accepted in a beginning language class.
Is It OK in Business Writing?
It’s accepted that business writing is more formal than some other forms. Because of this, there is a reluctance to use grammar that might be seen as overly casual.
However, in actual practice, the choice comes down to the setting and the tone. If other people in your company seem to hew to more stiff and formal language, it might be good to do so, as well. But if they tend to write with less formality, you are free to do so, too.
Where Did the Rule Against Starting a Sentence with But Come From?
According to linguist David Crystal, the rule started with schoolteachers in the 19th century. Many noticed young students habitually starting sentences with conjunctions and attempted to stop this in the interest of creating themes and essays with standalone, independent thoughts and clauses.
But instead of encouraging students to limit the use of these sentence starters, over time, they fell into a habit of banning the words altogether. Because of this, generations of children were taught never to start a sentence with conjunction when no such English grammar rule exists.
The Final Word on Can You Start a Sentence with But
Yes, you absolutely can start a sentence with but. But you need to make sure that the following sentence is not a fragment.
When it comes to using it in a business setting, that is a question of style rather than grammar. Follow the lead of the people in your office and your industry. And if there’s a style guide, that’s even better.
FAQ About Starting a Sentence with But
When can you start a sentence with but?
Any time you are joining a sentence with the one that proceeds it.
Are there times it’s wrong to start a sentence with but?
It’s wrong if your sentence is not a complete sentence. If it is a dependent clause, you should use a piece of punctuation other than a period.
Is it OK to use but at the start of a sentence according to AP Style or Chicago Manual of Style?
Both allow you to use but at the beginning of a sentence.
Join over 15,000 writers today
Get a FREE book of writing prompts and learn how to make more money from your writing.
Today, I am here to set you free from one of the shibboleths of grammar. You will be liberated! I certainly was. At school, we were taught you should never, ever, under any circumstances start a sentence with a conjunction. That rules out starting sentences with either “and” or “but” when writing. I faithfully learned the rule. I became positively angry when I read books in which otherwise excellent writers seemed to make this faux pas. How could they be so sloppy?
One day, I decided to settle the matter once and for all. I would find an authoritative reference to back up what I had learned, and I would send it to someone who had just argued you can start a sentence with “but.”
Being Wrong Can Make You Happy
Once I started to check, I quickly realized I was going to be proved wrong. People, including some of the greatest writers of all time, have been starting sentences with “and” and “but” for hundreds of years. Of course, there are style guides that discourage it, but it’s perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with “but” when writing. I was thrilled! That very day, I started peppering my writing with sentences starting with conjunctions. But one shouldn’t go overboard! See what I did there? Hah!
Using any stylistic quirk too frequently spoils your writing. By all means, start sentences with “but” from time to time, but remember that “but” also belongs after a comma. I did it again, didn’t I?
When Should You Consider Starting a Sentence With “But”?
“Contrary to what your high school English teacher told you, there’s no reason not to begin a sentence with but or and; in fact, these words often make a sentence more forceful and graceful. They are almost always better than beginning with however or additionally.” (Professor Jack Lynch, Associate Professor of English, Rutgers University, New Jersey)
Thank you, professor! I’ll admit to using “however,” but being lazy, I really do prefer the word “but” to begin a sentence when given a choice. “Additionally” is just awful, and I flinch every time I start a sentence with it. It seems so pompous!
The professor also confirms starting with the conjunction can make your writing more forceful. Remember, you don’t always want to be forceful. Sometimes sentence flow is more appropriate. But a choppy “but” at the start of a sentence certainly does seem to add emphasis when that’s what you’re looking for.
People Are Going to Argue This With You
Just as I once was a firm believer in the “never start a sentence with and or but” non-rule, you’ll come across enslaved souls who have been taught the very same non-rule. Where can they turn for confirmation and comfort? The Bible is always a good place. Refer them to Genesis Chapter 1 for sentences starting with “and.”
For a sentence starting with “but,” you may have to read a little further – all the way to Genesis 8:1: “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.”
Looking around online, I see some arguing that using the Bible as a work of English literature is pushing the envelope. I beg to differ, but perhaps as the world’s greatest bestseller, it’s a bit too commercial for them. Let’s take them to the real authority: the notoriously stuffy and pedantic, Fowler’s Modern English Usage. It’s seen as the authoritative book on English Grammar, and if they won’t believe it, they’re never going to believe anyone.
If they’re trying to find a comeback, you can always help them out. But they won’t be impressed with the reference you give them because I’m ready to bet you anything they’ve never have heard of Quackenbos!
“A sentence should not commence with the conjunctions and, for, but, or however…. ” (George Payn Quackenbos, An Advanced Course of Composition and Rhetoric, 1854)
Let’s sum up that argument, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. We have the Bible, a host of brilliant writers, and Fowler’s Modern English Usage vs… Quackenbos. I’ll see your Quackenbos and I’ll raise you an Albert Einstein. Oops, we’ve gone from law to poker. Please pardon the mixed metaphors. Of course, Shakespeare also occasionally mixed metaphors, but we’ll go into that another time, shall we?
Why Were Students Taught This Non-Rule Rule?
Why were we taught this non-rule rule about not starting sentences with conjunctions? Several authorities seem to think it was done to prevent school kids from writing as they often talk:
“I went to my friend’s house yesterday. And we decided to go to the mall. And while we were there we saw a whole bunch of our friends. And they were just hanging out like we were. And because we didn’t have any money that was all we could do, really.”
Or
“But then John said he’d had a birthday, and we could all go for ice creams. But when we got to the ice-cream parlor, he found that he had left his wallet at home. But that didn’t stop us from having a good time together while teasing John that he owed us an ice-cream.”
You have to admit, that’s a bit much. So to close, we quote Oscar Wilde, “Everything in moderation, including moderation.”
It’s a question I often heard when I was teaching: Can a sentence start with but?
The answer is simple: Yes. Of course.
For years I offered $100 in cash to any student who could find the Don’t start a sentence with but rule in a grammar book from a reputable publisher. My librarian friends would invariably report a run on grammar books for the next couple of days.
Despite frantic efforts to claim the money, no student ever succeeded, for a simple reason: That “rule” doesn’t exist. Even Fowler’s Modern English Usage, the ultimate authority on grammar, says there’s no such rule. (See for yourself: Click on the link to read page 191, where you’ll find a discussion about starting sentences with but.)
Good writers start sentences with but all the time. To prove my point, a few minutes ago I found this sentence at the New York Times website in the second paragraph of a news story: “But Republicans still oppose many aspects of the bill, and a rough floor fight lies ahead.”
“Ah, yes,” you’re saying. “But that just proves how writing has deteriorated.”
I hear you. You’re sure you won’t find sentences starting with but in the Gettysburg Address, or FDR’s Inaugural Address, or Shakespeare, or the Declaration of Independence, or classic books like Pride and Prejudice and Little Women, or examples of fine prose like the King James Bible. Everybody knows that, right?
Wrong. Read on: I’ve assembled sentences starting with but from a variety of writers, old and new. For good measure, I included sentences from several authorities on good writing: Lynn Truss, Strunk and White, Theodore Bernstein, H. D. Fowler, and H. L. Mencken. (You might be interested to know that Princeton University did a study and found that professional writers start 10% of their sentences with “but” and “and.”)
But don’t take my word for it. Go to your bookcase and leaf through a couple of your favorite books. Pull out today’s newspaper and scan the front page. Turn the pages of your favorite magazine. Go to www.Bartleby.com, which has full texts of many classic books, and check out what famous writers from the past have done.
Here’s what you’ll discover: Not only do professional writers start sentences with but – they do it often. You won’t have to search far for examples. Happy hunting! (To learn more about punctuating sentences with but, click here and read about Comma Rule 2.)
Examples of Sentences Starting with But:
Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Lynn Truss, p. 7:
“But best of all, I think, is the simple advice given by the style book of a national newspaper: that punctuation is ‘a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling.’”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J. K. Rowling, p. 3:
“But on the edge of town, drills were driven out of his mind by something else.”
The Associated Press Stylebook (2007), p. 326:
“But use the comma if its omission would slow comprehension…”
Watch Your Language, Theodore Bernstein, p. 4:
“But when he is writing for the newspaper he must fit himself into the newspaper’s framework.”
Preface to Watch Your Language, Jacques Barzun:
“But I am not inviting the reader to witness a tender of compliments over what may seem like a mere byproduct of professional skill.”
The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States, H.L.Mencken (1921):
“But its chief excuse is its human interest, for it prods deeply into national idiosyncrasies and ways of mind, and that sort of prodding is always entertaining.”
The Elements of Style, Strunk and White (1918 edition):
“But whether the interruption be slight or considerable, he must never omit one comma and leave the other.”
The King’s English, H.D. Fowler (1908 edition):
“But if, instead of his Saxon percentage’s being the natural and undesigned consequence of his brevity (and the rest), those other qualities have been attained by his consciously restricting himself to Saxon, his pains will have been worse than wasted; the taint of preciosity will be over all he has written.”
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott, page 1:
“We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I’m afraid I don’t.” And Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted.
Epistle Dedicatory to Man and Superman, Bernard Shaw, 1903, p. 2:
“But you must not expect me to adopt your inexplicable, fantastic, petulant, fastidious ways….”
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, p. 1:
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”
FDR, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933:
“But it may be that an unprecedented demand and need for undelayed action may call for temporary departure from that normal balance of public procedure.”
The Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln (1863):
“But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.”
Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Ii:
Horatio: So have I heard and do in part believe it.
But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,
Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill.
King James Bible, Luke 6:44 – 45 (Sermon on the Mount)
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Cashel Byron’s Profession, Bernard Shaw:
CASHEL. I go. The meanest lad on thy estate Would not betray me thus. But ’tis no matter.
P.S. I have sentences starting with but in all my books (I’ve published eleven of them). Did you notice that I started a sentence with but in this blog? Here it is: But don’t take my word for it.
It’s good advice, incidentally. Start doing your own investigation of these hallowed (but non-existent) rules.
My husband once had an editor who thought because was a bad word. Whenever he used because in an article, she’d call him and insist that he take it out. It never occurred to her to check the dictionary or see whether real-world writers use the word because (which, of course, they all do regularly). Made her look foolish, didn’t it?
For a while, using but to start a sentence was largely frowned upon. But, I think it is possible to use but at the beginning of a sentence, as long as it isn’t overused.
Am I right?
RegDwigнt
96.4k39 gold badges305 silver badges399 bronze badges
asked Nov 20, 2011 at 22:44
2
But for conditional usage, I would still tend to frown upon it. But, used sparingly, it can be effective in emphasizing the thought or action behind the «but».
answered Nov 20, 2011 at 22:59
JeffSaholJeffSahol
18.6k2 gold badges37 silver badges78 bronze badges
8
It is not ‘grammatically incorrect’ and it is not restricted to informal writing. When but occurs at the beginning of a sentence it is not to be construed as a conjunction, but as a conjunct. Conjuncts are adverbs which, in the words of ‘The Cambridge Guide to English Usage’,
. . . play a cohesive role between separate sentences, or clauses. They . .
. express logical relationships such as addition, contrast and
causation.
answered Nov 21, 2011 at 7:31
Barrie EnglandBarrie England
139k10 gold badges240 silver badges400 bronze badges
5
I used to think it wrong to start a sentence with But. My English teacher told us not to say or write that way, though he admitted that in reality many did use that way.
I am very familiar with Longman Contemporary English Dictionary. In it, four parts of speech are given if we search for but. They are conjunction, preposition, adverb and noun. Yet when we want to start a sentence with but, we use its conjunction meaning. That is grammatically incorrect.
Barrie England wrote it was a conjunct (adverb) and referred to The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. If so, that well explains.
However, I see such usage is not in many dictionaries. That means it is not universally accepted. As a non-native English user, I will avoid using it this way.
answered Jan 25, 2013 at 6:55
Jiancheng ZouJiancheng Zou
4794 gold badges8 silver badges17 bronze badges
1
In a narrative I can see no reason not to use it, however it is still wrong in most aspects of written English.
Seeing a ‘but’ at the start of a sentence would make me want to see what on earth had come before…
answered Nov 21, 2011 at 0:39
Rory AlsopRory Alsop
6,6434 gold badges29 silver badges38 bronze badges
1
Of course you can use «but» at the beginning of a sentence. The supposed rule against this practice is an urban myth. I used to offer my college students $100 in cash if they could find this «rule» in a reputable grammar book. Nobody ever collected the money! What’s more — all the grammar books feature sentences starting with «but.»
To read more: http://wp.me/PU98s-2B
answered Jun 17, 2016 at 21:15
0
Most of us were probably told by a high school English teacher to never begin a sentence with “but” or any of the seven coordinating conjunctions.
Can I start a sentence with but?
The short answer is yes. While there are some instances when your writing should be formal, like in business writing, and beginning a sentence with this three-letter word is frowned upon, it’s just fine to do so.
You can break up a long sentence that is separated by a comma and joined by one of the coordinating conjunctions, and instead, write two sentences. The second sentence would start with the coordinating conjunction. Such as “but.”
This article will explain further.
How to Use But in a Sentence
“But” is a coordinating conjunction that signifies a contrary of the first given thought or denotes an exception. To write “but” in a sentence, you should have two opposing ideas, events, or conditions.
Below examples demonstrate how to use but in a sentence:
- He loves her, but he can’t find a way to show her.
- She is a brave woman, but she becomes a coward when dealing with some areas of her life.
- No one but Mary deserves the recognition.
In Examples 1 and 2, two opposing concepts are considered. The man in Example 1 has feelings towards a woman, yet the second part beginning with “but” implies that this man can’t express his emotions. In Example 2, the woman’s bravery has been highlighted, but the second thought as signaled by “but” accentuates that her cowardice sometimes arises.
On the other hand, Example 3 shows an exception using the word “but.” The sentence conveys that only Mary deserves to receive an acknowledgment.
Informal Writing
The supposed rule is never to start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. However, as long as you aren’t writing something that is incredibly formal, it is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with “but” or any other conjunction like it.
As long as you can create a full and complete idea, beginning a sentence with “but” won’t result in a sentence fragment. The word is perfectly fine to start with, as long as it can form one sentence that is complete and makes sense.
Even an associate professor from Rutgers University in New Jersey has stated that the old rule is outdated and no longer observed. In fact, if you have too many independent clauses, it is recommended that you break it up, which will result in the last sentence beginning with a word like “but.”
No Longer Grammatically Wrong
Great writing occurs in all forms, including informal styles.
The English language changes its rules from time to time. Whereas it used to be taught that starting sentences with a conjunction was wrong unless you were doing so with conjunctive adverbs.
The following are two examples of sentences starting with the word “but.”
Example 1:
We were going to go to the park this afternoon. But it snowed. So now we’re going to the bowling alley.
Example 2:
I’ve had a crush on Nathan since the second grade. But he doesn’t notice me. Maybe I’ll move on one day, but that day isn’t today.
All Writers Do It
Some of the greatest writers today begin a sentence regularly with a conjunction.
They are only words, and as long as they make sense in the paragraph and in the story, then they’re fine.
Examples of this are in many bestselling novels. Students would do well to remember this fact when they question the changed answer to whether they can begin a sentence with that controversial word.
Schools used to place a lot of emphasis on the way you were supposed to start a sentence, and some people graduated high school decades ago who can no longer tell you exactly what a conjunction is.
Still, they know for sure that starting a sentence with one of those words is a bad idea. This was such a stressed point in many English classes that it’s challenging to reteach it.
Can You Start a Paragraph with But?
In general, there is no issue beginning a paragraph with but. The instructions and writing rules taught by schools and teachers has loosened over time.
However, despite “but” being perfectly acceptable to start a paragraph, it is important to reflect on who you are addressing. Some people still lean to the conventions created so long ago.
So, even if “but” at the beginning of the paragraph is correctly used, it may be perceived by some as informal. Therefore, have discretion when assessing whether to utilize it or not, when it comes to your written piece’s context, audience, or genre.
Reteach Yourself Through Practice
As long as you have found a useful way to start a sentence with a word you were taught was only meant to function as a way to connect clauses and phrases, then you’ll soon get in the habit of expanding the vocabulary you allow yourself to begin sentences with.
On the other hand, beginning with “but” too often, while correct, will appear messy.
If you have decided that no matter what, the word “but” is only meant to link two phrases, you need only look to the Bible. There are several examples of sentences starting with this conjunction, such as, “But God remembered Noah…”
As long as your story makes sense, the reader won’t care. It’s often the writer who gets hung up on old rules they were taught.
Now, however, if your first sentence is too long and has too many clauses, it’s encouraged to break them up.
Rules change, which is why style guides are updated all the time. Starting sentences with the word “but” is no longer frowned upon and is no longer considered bad grammar.
We hope this article has been able to answer your question whether or not you can start a sentence with “but.”